Some Notes on Blindness in Japan During Golden Week

A lawsuit is being heard at the Imabari branch of the Matsuyama District Court in which a visually impaired woman is seeking approximately 1.7 million yen in damages from a dog owner, alleging that she fell and was injured after an unleashed dog approached her guide dog. In an interview with Yomiuri Shimbun, the plaintiff stressed, “If you fall on a public road, there’s a risk of being hit by a car, could be life-threatening.” She added, “I want people to understand how dangerous it is to interfere with a guide dog while it is guiding.” In March, representatives of the media were invited to observe a walking training session held on a platform at East Japan Railway’s Shinagawa Station in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, using actual train cars. The session brought together six participants with visual impairments and six mobility instructors, who worked in pairs. Episode notes: ‘Visually impaired woman sues for 1.7M Yen after unleashed dog attacks guide dog, causing fall’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/27/visually-impaired-woman-sues-for-1-7m-yen-after-unleashed-dog-attacks-guide-dog-causing-fall/ ‘Japan starts platform safety training for visually impaired’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/04/30/japan-starts-platform-safety-training-for-visually-impaired/